all parts of the country: the entire population is at risk with increased severity in children under five and pregnant women (National Malaria Control Program, 2011). 300. The Government of Sierra Leone recognizes malaria as a serious health burden and has The GoSL has introduced a number of initiatives to address malaria in children, especially those under the age of five years. These include programmes for: a. b. c. d. Distribution of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets through public health facilities, targeting pregnant women and children under the age of 5 years; The provision of prompt effective treatment with ASAQ within 24 hours of onset of symptoms; Intermittent preventative treatment in pregnancy (IPTP); and Cross-cutting interventions such as behavior change communications to increase knowledge of prevention and rapid case identification and management. 301. The National Malaria Control Strategic Plan (NMCSP) 2011-2015’s vision is to achieve the ‘Access to malaria control interventions for all’. The plan’s objectives are to increase coverage of prompt and effective treatment of malaria from 50 percent in 2010 to 80 percent for all age groups in 2016; to increase the proportion of pregnant women receiving at least two doses of IPTP from 72 percent in 2008 to 90 percent by 2016; to increase to 80 percent the proportion of the population who take appropriate action to prevent and treat malaria through information education, communication / behavior change communication by 2016. 302. Before the 2010 LLIN universal coverage mass campaign, net ownership and utilization was low with only 36.6% of the population owning at least one insecticide treated net and only 25.8% of children less than five years of age reporting to have slept under a net in the night before the survey (DHS 2008). During the 2010 mass LLIN campaign 3,2 million nets were distributed. The post-campaign ownership and use survey conducted in 2011 found that 66 percent of households owned at least two nets. However, in 2012 ownership had reduced to 57 percent. 303. Access to treatment was low, with only 30.1% of children under 5 with fever receiving antimalarial treatment (DHS2008). Regarding the prevention of malaria in pregnancy, only 12% of pregnant women received at least 2 doses of SP for the prevention of in pregnancy. 304. The launching of the Free Health Care Initiative (FHC-I) in April 2010 significantly increased the access to malaria treatment for children under five and pregnant women. The initiative complemented the already ongoing support from the Global Fund to make available the Artemisine Combined Therapy (ACTs) and ensured access to health care for children under-5, pregnant and breast feeding women free of charge. 305. The Government of Sierra Leone was awarded the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (GFATM) Round 10 grant for Malaria. The Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) along with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) are co-Principal Recipient (co-PR) for this grant. The main responsibilities of the MoHS under this grant include: prompt and effective treatment, procurement and supply management (PSM), health workers’ training, community case management of malaria; and 7. Health and Welfare  81